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Premier League 2015

About

FK Aktobe was founded as a professional team in 1967, although its roots can be traced back to the 1930s. Originally known as Aktyubinets, over the years, the team have competed in both the Soviet and Kazakh league systems. Since the formation of the Kazakhstan Premier League in 1992, they have emerged as one of the country's most successful teams, winning a number of domestic honours. The club are nicknamed 'The Red-Whites', which is a reference to the colours that traditionally make up their strip.

During the Soviet era, the team failed to make a significant impact and spent much of their time in the lower divisions of the league system. In total, they finished as zonal winners of the country's third tier, the Soviet Second League, twice.

However, since Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union, Aktobe have enjoyed far greater prominence. Although their early years in the Premier League were difficult, since the turn of the millennium, the team have achieved great success. In total, they have been crowned as the country's league champions on five occasions, with those wins coming in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013. Additional success has come in the Kazakhstan Cup, which they lifted in 2008, and the Kazakhstan Super Cup, which they picked up in 2008 and 2010. As a result of their domestic achievements, Aktobe have played in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.

Amongst the most notable players to have played for the side are Andrei Miroshnichenko, who was a prolific goalscorer during the 1990s, and Serghei Rogaciov, who achieved success with the team in the 2000s.

Aktobe's home games are played at Central Stadium, which opened in 1975. The venue underwent a renovations process in 2000 and is now one of the best-attended stadiums in the country. It is currently able to hold up to 12,800 spectators.